Human lower limb performance enhancement outfit systems

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises a user-friendly, soft and resilient, biomimetic (mimicking biological entities) lower limb support outfits that can be worn externally by people to improve and enhance lower limb, legs and knees performance in sports, daily dynamic activities and medical rehabilitation/physical therapy. More specifically, the present invention relates to an outfit, which allows a portion of the upper limb&#39;s quasi-static weight and dynamic weight due to impact forces to be excluded from being transmitted to the lower limb, legs, quadriceps and hamstrings muscles and knees by directly transmitting them to the ankles, footwear and/or the ground, through soft elastic columnar quasi-legs that are equipped with smart biomimetic materials such as shape memory materials and artificial muscles such as synthetic and/or ionic polymeric muscles and provide lower limb support function by buckling and bending in accordance with the dynamic maneuvering of the user. The said lower limb performance enhancing outfit is encapsulated by user-friendly fabric means for easy wear. The upper portion of the outfit can be in the form of a sports short worn by the user and encapsulating the buttocks support plates or supporting other outfits worn on the torso of the user or support other loads on the torso such as a backpack.

CROSSREFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. utility applicationSer. No. 11/115,731, “Human lower limb performance enhancement outfit,”filed Apr. 26, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference, and isrelated to U.S. utility application titled “Backpack Support Apparatus,”filed concurrently, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to lower limb performance enhancement andaugmentation outfits that can be worn by people to improve and enhancelower limb, as well as hip and waist, legs and knees performance insports, daily dynamic activities and medical rehabilitation/physicaltherapy.

General everyday life activities, athletics and sports activities suchas skiing and snowboarding and medical rehabilitation and physicaltherapy, exercise or training activities or the like excessively loadthe muscles of the leg (quadriceps, hamstrings and musculus glutaeusmaximus or the buttocks muscles), the bones of the leg such as femur,tibia and fibula and the knee anatomical parts such as the patella,quadriceps tendons and ligaments and often cause disorders in the lowerlimbs. Thus, a lower limb support and/or assist outfit having astructure for supporting the leg muscles and the knees has always beendesirable and needed. The leg and knee support outfits must bebiomimetic (mimicking biology or biological lower limbs), user-friendlyand easily wearable by ordinary people to provide a comfortable fitwithout posing any danger to a user or having any medical restrictions.Furthermore, they should augment the power of the lower limbs by storingdynamic impact energy and using it to effectively reduce muscle fatigueand knee injury during such activities. Aside from medical andrehabilitation applications, lower limb and in particular legs and kneessupport and power augmentation have been extremely important in skiing.Skiers' legs are normally subject to a tremendous amount of strain andpressure. Even the professional downhill racers experience this strainand fatigue and are in search of ways to enhance their skiingperformance. Furthermore, the older or less conditioned the skier, thegreater the amount of stress and strain on their lower limbs.

Snowboarders also experience lower limb (leg and knee) strain andfatigue, which of course limits their jumping, turning and acrobatics.Accordingly, snowboarders as well as skiers have a dire need for auser-friendly outfit, which could enhance their performance by lesseningthe strain on their lower limbs.

There have been previous attempts to provide suitable supports. Willi inU.S. Pat. No. 4,021,053 entitled “Device providing improved support ofthe lower leg of a skier”, issued May 3, 1977 teaches a support for thelower leg of a skier comprises an arm pivotally connected at one end tothe upper part of the lower leg and at the other end to the ski throughjaws gripping the ski-boot and firmly connected with the ski by thepressure of the boot sole thereon. Pivoting of the arm is controlled bya double acting resilient device, which is adjustable to vary the forceon the arm and to vary the neutral position of the arm.

Willi in U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,462 entitled “Support device for skiers”issued May 5, 1981, teaches support devices for the shanks of skier'slegs wherein levers on opposite sides of and parallel to the shank arepivoted about an axis at ankle height and secured to the shank justbeneath the knee by a flexible strap. Two rods are pivoted to the leverarrangement on each side. In the case of a single lever the rods arepivoted above and below the lever axis. For parallel levers one rod ispivoted above the axis of one lever and the other rod below the axis ofthe other lever. In each case the rods pass through a resilientcompressible block. When the shank swings forward a stop on one rodcompresses the block, while the other rod moves freely in the oppositedirection. When the shank swings backward the roles of the rods arereversed.

Davis in U.S. Pat. No. 4,408,600 entitled “Leg aid device and method”,issued Oct. 11, 1983, discusses a leg aid device and method forincreasing the stamina of a body-supporting user's leg for repeatedflexure and extension at the knee. The device comprises elongatedflexibly resilient biasing means for placement in approximate alignmentwith a user's leg from a level near the ankle area up to at least thelevel of the mid-thigh area. The biasing means is adapted to bias auser's leg toward a straightened condition without significant torsionor twisting of the leg. Holding means maintains the biasing meansapproximately aligned upon a user's leg for bending yieldingly therewithinto an overall actuate form during flexure of the leg at the knee. Thebiasing means, when held by the holding means upon a body-supportinguser's leg, functions to support a portion of the user's body weightduring times the biasing means is in bent condition with the user's legin flexed condition, and functions to aid the user's leg muscles incausing extension of the user's leg from flexed condition as the biasingmeans resiliently returns toward a straightened condition with theextension of the user's leg.

A performance enhancement assembly is described in U.S. Pat. No.4,759,570 to Walter Dandy, III, entitled “ski assembly” and issued Jul.26, 1988. The Dandy assembly makes use of a rigid pole and springassembly combination, which transfers the weight of the upper body of askier from the skiers' legs to the skis during crouching movement of askier. Dandy further refined his invention along with Tony Nespor in aseries of patents.

Dandy, et al. in their U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,970 entitled “Performanceenhancement assembly for skiers or the like” issued Dec. 17, 1991,teaches an apparatus for shifting the body weight of a skier from askier's legs to the skis for enhancing the skier's performance andminimizing leg strain comprises a spring assembly including a loop ofelastic rod-shaped material stretchable during crouching movement of askier's legs between a standing position and a fully crouched positionof the skier. A housing defining an elongated channel for enclosing aportion of the loop supports the stretchable material and parallelrod-shaped branches terminating in a base bend. The base bend is securedwithin one end of the housing. The housing also includes a socket forreceiving rigid poles therein and supporting the poles in verticalpositions above the skis. The top ends of the poles have pulleys thereinover which a cord is fed extending from a top bend of the loop orelastic material to straps disposed about the thigh or thighs of theskier's legs. The housing is secured to the back of the boots of theskier so that the skier's weight transferred to the rigid poles is inturn transferred to the skis.

Dandy et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,684 entitled “Performanceenhancement assembly for skiers or the like including ski pants”, issuedJul. 21, 1992, presents an apparatus for shifting the body weight of askier from a skier's legs to the skis for enhancing the skier'sperformance and minimizing leg strain comprises a spring assemblyincluding a loop of elastic rod-shaped material stretchable duringcrouching movement of a skier's legs between a standing position and afully crouched position of the skier. A housing defining an elongatedchannel for enclosing a portion of the loop supports the stretchablematerial and parallel rod-shaped branches terminating in a base bend.The base bend is secured within one end of the housing. The housing alsoincludes a socket for receiving rigid poles therein and supporting thepoles in vertical positions above the skis. The top ends of the poleshave pulleys therein over which a cord is fed extending from a top bendof the loop of elastic material through grommets located in a skier'spants to straps disposed about the thigh or thighs of the skier's legs.The housing is secured to the back of the boots of the skier so that theskier's weight transferred to the rigid poles is in turn transferred tothe skis.

Dandy et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,685 entitled “Performanceenhancement assembly for skiers or the like including ski poles withstorage compartment”, issued Jul. 21, 1992, teaches an apparatus forshifting the body weight of a skier from a skier's legs to the skis forenhancing the skier's performance and minimizing leg strain comprises aspring assembly including a loop of elastic rod-shaped materialstretchable during crouching movement of a skier's legs between astanding position and a fully crouched position of the skier. A housingdefining an elongated channel for enclosing a portion of the loopsupports the stretchable material and parallel rod-shaped branchesterminating in a base bend. The base bend is secured within one end ofthe housing. The housing also includes a socket for receiving rigidpoles therein and supporting the poles in vertical positions above theskis. The top ends of the poles have pulleys therein over which a cordis fed extending from a top bend of the loop of elastic material tostraps disposed about the thigh or thighs of the skier's legs. Thehousing is secured to the back of the boots of the skier so that theskier's weight transferred to the rigid poles is in turn transferred tothe skis. Hollow tubular ski poles provide a convenient storage locationfor the rigid poles when not in use.

Dandy et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,825 entitled “Performanceenhancement assembly for skiers or the like including swivel plateassembly” and issued Nov. 10, 1992, discloses an apparatus for shiftingthe body weight of a skier from a skier's legs to the skis for enhancingthe skier's performance and minimizing leg strain comprises a springassembly including a loop of elastic rod-shaped material stretchableduring crouching movement of a skier's legs between a standing positionand a fully crouched position of the skier. A housing defining anelongated channel for enclosing a portion of the loop supports thestretchable material and parallel rod-shaped branches terminating in abase bend. The base bend is secured within one end of the housing. Thehousing also includes a socket for receiving rigid poles therein andsupporting the poles in vertical positions above the skis. The top endsof the poles have pulleys therein over which a cord is fed extendingfrom a top bend of the loop of elastic material to straps disposed aboutthe thigh or thighs of the skier's legs. The housing is pivotallysecured to the back of the boots of the skier so that the skier's weighttransferred to the rigid poles is in turn transferred to the skis.

Fuji et al. in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,970 entitled “Protective clothingfor regions of lower limb”, issued Feb. 13, 2001, presents a legprotection garment that is effective for mainly supporting thehamstrings, the muscle of the posterior side of the femoral region amongthe leg portion. The leg protection garment having a lower half of thebody part which has a leg portion of length capable of covering at leastthe patella region and formed of stretchable fabric, the garment havinga portion having a partially strong straining force, the portion havinga strong straining force comprising at least a portion having a strongstraining force 101 (A) which ranges from an area above the trochantermajor to the vicinity 5 of the upper end of the tibia by way of thetrochanter major and further the vicinity over the boundary between themusculus biceps femoris and the tractus iliotibialis so as to supportthe musculus biceps femoris, wherein the portion obliquely crosses thevicinity 4 of the tendon region located below the muscle belly of themusculus biceps femoris without crossing the muscle belly of themusculus biceps femoris.

Many of the previous attempts involve hard mechanical parts, and havenot been able to really address the problems with lower limb support andpower augmentation. Fuji et al. is a garment that is effective formainly supporting the hamstrings. Thus, there is a need for auser-friendly, soft and resilient, biomimetic (mimicking biologicalentities) lower limb, as well as hip and waist, support outfits that canbe worn externally by people to improve and enhance lower limb, legs andknees performance in sports, daily dynamic activities and medicalrehabilitation/physical therapy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a user-friendly, soft and resilient,biomimetic (mimicking biological entities) lower limb, as well as hipand waist, support outfits that can be worn externally by people toimprove and enhance lower limb, legs and knees performance in sports,daily dynamic activities and medical rehabilitation/physical therapy.The present invention provides an outfit, which allows a portion of theupper limb's quasi-static weight and dynamic weight due to impact forcesto be excluded from being transmitted to the lower limb, hip and waist,legs, quadriceps and hamstrings muscles and knees by directlytransmitting them to the ankles, footwear and/or the ground, throughsoft elastic columnar quasi-legs that are equipped with smart biomimeticmaterials such as shape memory materials and artificial muscles such assynthetic and/or ionic polymeric muscles and provide lower limb supportfunction by buckling and bending in accordance with the maneuvering ofthe user. The said lower limb performance-enhancing outfit isencapsulated by user-friendly fabric means for easy wear. The upperportion of the outfit is in the form of a sports short worn by the userand encapsulating the buttocks support plates.

The present invention provides a system for enhancing the lower limbperformance of an individual involved in sports or other dynamicactivities involving the use of lower limbs, rehabilitating, involved inphysical therapy and orthopedic recovery, running, jumping, turning,hopping, skiing or snowboarding which has a pair of biomimeticquasi-legs equipped with soft resilient elastic biomimetic smartmaterials such as shape memory materials and artificial muscles such assynthetic and ionic polymeric muscles as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,109,852 to Shahinpoor, et al. entitled “Soft Actuators and ArtificialMuscles”, issued Aug. 29, 2000 and U.S. Pat. No. 6, 475,639 toShahinpoor, et al., entitled “Ionic Polymer Sensors and Actuators”,issued Nov. 5, 2002.

The present invention can also provide a more user friendly and soft andelastic pair of biomimetic quasi-legs that are capable of biomimeticallybuckling and bending to maintain a controllable force and thus providingan additional smart and elastically compliant support in a lower limband hip and waist performance enhancement outfit. The present inventioncan also provide a less cumbersome and more non-mechanical andbiomimetic system, compared to the systems proposed in US Patentsdescribed in the previous section for use in an individual's dynamiclower limb performance enhancement. The present invention can alsoprovide a lower limb performance outfit that drastically differs fromDandy, et al. teachings in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,161,825 and 5,131,685 and5,131,684 and 5,072,970 by replacing the rigid rods an stretchablerubber loops and all other cumbersome mechanical parts by a simple pairof compliant biomimetic bending rather than stretching legs to enhancethe lower limb performance.

The present invention can provide soft, compliant, biomimetic and uniquecoupling and enhancement means arching between the upper limb throughmusculus glutaeus maximus (the buttocks muscles) and the lower limb, aswell as hip and waist, of an individual involved in dynamic activitiesinvolving the use of lower limb and placing dynamic loads on the lowerlimb muscles and the knees. The present invention can provide a uniqueperformance enhancement outfit, which is worn by the user in acomfortable fashion, and with an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Thepresent invention can comprise lower limb assist and/or support outfitsthat can be worn by people to improve and enhance lower limb, as well aship and waist, legs and knees performance in sports, daily dynamicactivities and medical rehabilitation/physical therapy, which allows aportion of the upper limb's quasi-static weight and dynamic weight dueto impact forces to be excluded from being transmitted to the lowerlimb, as well as hip and waist, legs, quadriceps and hamstrings musclesand knees by directly transmitting them to the ankles, footwear and/orthe ground, through soft elastic columnar quasi-legs that are equippedwith biomimetic smart materials and artificial muscles and provide lowerlimb support function by columnar buckling and bending in accordancewith the dynamics movement and maneuvering of the user.

The present invention can provide a one piece, user-friendlynon-cumbersome means, biomimetic, compliant, bendable pair of quasi-legsto enhance lower limb performance in dynamic activities. The presentinvention can provide a one piece outfit wearable in a user-friendlymanner with bendable biomimetic quasi-legs equipped with biomimeticsmart materials and artificial muscles to enhance lower limb performancein dynamic activities. The present invention can be very simple andinexpensive to manufacture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention is explained by using embodiment examples andcorresponding drawings, which are incorporated into and form part of thespecification.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an individual wearing the lower limbperformance enhancement outfit of the present invention in an uprightposition.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an individual wearing the lower limbperformance enhancement outfit of the present invention in a tuckposition with bent knees.

FIG. 3 is a back view of an individual wearing the lower limbperformance enhancement outfit of the present invention in either anupright or a tuck position.

FIG. 4 is a comparative side view of an individual wearing the lowerlimb performance enhancement outfit of the present invention in twoconsecutive positions of upright and tuck or bent.

FIG. 5 is three-dimensional view of the biomimetic quasi-leg withbuttocks support plate equipped with smart materials and/or artificialmuscles in an initial upright position.

FIG. 6 is three-dimensional view of the biomimetic quasi-leg withbuttocks support plate equipped with smart materials and/or artificialmuscles in a buckled/bent position.

FIG. 7 is three-dimensional view of the pair of biomimetic quasi-legswith buttocks support plates equipped with smart materials and/orartificial muscles in an initial upright position.

FIG. 8 is three-dimensional view of the pair of biomimetic quasi-legswith buttocks support plates equipped with smart materials and/orartificial muscles in a buckled/bent position.

FIG. 9 is a side view of an individual wearing multiple lower limbperformance enhancement outfits of the present invention in a tuckposition with bent knees.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a skier wearing the lower limb performanceenhancement outfit of the present invention in a tuck position with bentknees.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of another embodiment of the presentinvention in which the lower limb and hip and waist performanceenhancing outfit is worn like a under arm support vest on the torso ofan individual with under arms support in an upright position.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of another embodiment of the presentinvention in which the lower limb and hip and waist performanceenhancing outfit is worn like a under arm support vest on the torso ofan individual with under arms support in an upright position with thebottom of the quasi legs on the ground.

FIG. 13 is an illustration of another embodiment of the presentinvention in which the lower limb and hip and waist performanceenhancing outfit is worn like an outfit supported between the buttocksplates and bottom plates on the ground.

FIG. 14 is a side view of another embodiment of the present inventionlike that shown in FIG. 1, showing an individual wearing the lower limbperformance enhancement outfit of the present invention in an uprightposition.

FIG. 15 is a side view of another embodiment of the present inventionlike that shown in FIG. 2, showing an individual wearing the lower limbperformance enhancement outfit of the present invention in a tuckposition with bent knees.

FIG. 16 is a back view of another embodiment of the present inventionlike that shown in Figure 3, showing an individual wearing the lowerlimb performance enhancement outfit of the present invention in eitheran upright or a tuck position.

FIG. 17 is a comparative side view of another embodiment of the presentinvention like that shown in FIG. 4, showing an individual wearing thelower limb performance enhancement outfit of the present invention intwo consecutive positions of upright and tuck or bent.

FIG. 18 is three-dimensional view of another embodiment of the presentinvention like that shown in FIG. 5, showing the biomimetic quasi-legwith buttocks support plate and footwear support bracket equipped withsmart materials and/or artificial muscles in an initial uprightposition.

FIG. 19 is three-dimensional view of another embodiment of the presentinvention like that shown in FIG. 6, showing the biomimetic quasi-legwith buttocks support plate and footwear support bracket equipped withsmart materials and/or artificial muscles in a buckled/bent position.

FIG. 20 is three-dimensional view of another embodiment of the presentinvention like that shown in FIG. 7, showing the pair of biomimeticquasi-legs with buttocks support plates and footwear support bracketequipped with smart materials and/or artificial muscles in an initialupright position.

FIG. 21 is three-dimensional view of another embodiment of the presentinvention like that shown in FIG. 8, showing the pair of biomimeticquasi-legs with buttocks support plates and footwear support bracketequipped with smart materials and/or artificial muscles in abuckled/bent position.

FIG. 22 is a side view of another embodiment of the present inventionlike that shown in FIG. 9, showing an individual wearing multiple lowerlimb performance enhancement outfits of the present invention in a tuckposition with bent knees.

FIG. 23 is a side view of another embodiment of the present inventionlike that shown in FIG. 10, showing a skier wearing the lower limbperformance enhancement outfit of the present invention in a tuckposition with bent knees.

FIG. 24 is an illustration of another embodiment of the presentinvention like that shown in FIG. 11, in which the lower limb and hipand waist performance enhancing outfit is worn like a under arm supportvest on the torso of an individual with under arms support in an uprightposition.

FIG. 25 is an illustration of another embodiment of the presentinvention like that shown in FIG. 12, in which the lower limb and hipand waist performance enhancing outfit is worn like a under arm supportvest on the torso of an individual with under arms support in an uprightposition with the bottom of the quasi legs on the ground with a ball andsocket wheel.

FIG. 26 is an illustration of another embodiment of the presentinvention like that shown in FIG. 13, in which the lower limb and hipand waist performance enhancing outfit is worn like an outfit supportedbetween the buttocks plates and bottom plates on the ground.

FIG. 27 is an illustration of another embodiment of the presentinvention like that shown in FIG. 24, in which the lower limb and hipand waist performance enhancing outfit is worn like a load bearingsupport structure for loads, bags and packs worn on the torso or theback of an individual with quasi leg support in an upright position.

FIG. 28 is an illustration of another embodiment of the presentinvention like that shown in FIG. 25, in which the lower limb and hipand waist performance enhancing outfit is worn like a load bearingsupport structure for loads, bags and packs worn on the torso or theback of an individual with a quasi leg support in an upright positionwith the bottom of the quasi leg on the ground equipped with a ball andsocket wheel.

FIG. 29 is an illustration of another embodiment of the presentinvention like that shown in FIG. 26, in which the lower limb and hipand waist performance enhancing outfit is worn like an outfit supportedbetween the buttocks plates and bottom plates on the ground with thebottom of the quasi leg on the ground equipped with a ball and socketwheel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a user-friendly, soft and resilient,biomimetic (mimicking biological entities) lower limb, as well as hipand waist, support outfits that can be worn externally by people toimprove and enhance lower limb, legs and knees performance in sports,daily dynamic activities and medical rehabilitation/physical therapy.The present invention provides an outfit, which allows a portion of theupper limb's quasi-static weight and dynamic weight due to impact forcesto be excluded from being transmitted to the lower limb, hip and waist,legs, quadriceps and hamstrings muscles and knees by directlytransmitting them to the ankles, footwear and/or the ground, throughsoft elastic columnar quasi-legs that are equipped with smart biomimeticmaterials such as shape memory materials and artificial muscles such assynthetic and/or ionic polymeric muscles and provide lower limb supportfunction by buckling and bending in accordance with the maneuvering ofthe user. The said lower limb performance-enhancing outfit isencapsulated by user-friendly fabric means for easy wear. The upperportion of the outfit is in the form of a sports short worn by the userand encapsulating the buttocks support plates.

The present invention provides a system for enhancing the lower limbperformance of an individual involved in sports or other dynamicactivities involving the use of lower limbs, rehabilitating, involved inphysical therapy and orthopedic recovery, running, jumping, turning,hopping, skiing or snowboarding which has a pair of biomimeticquasi-legs equipped with soft resilient elastic biomimetic smartmaterials such as shape memory materials and artificial muscles such assynthetic and ionic polymeric muscles as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,109,852 to Shahinpoor, et al. entitled “Soft Actuators and ArtificialMuscles”, issued Aug. 29, 2000 and U.S. Pat. No. 6, 475,639 toShahinpoor, et al., entitled “Ionic Polymer Sensors and Actuators”,issued Nov. 5, 2002.

The present invention can also provide a more user friendly and soft andelastic pair of biomimetic quasi-legs that are capable of biomimeticallybuckling and bending to maintain a controllable force and thus providingan additional smart and elastically compliant support in a lower limband hip and waist performance enhancement outfit. The present inventioncan also provide a less cumbersome and more non-mechanical andbiomimetic system, compared to the systems proposed in U.S. Patentsdescribed in the previous section for use in an individual's dynamiclower limb performance enhancement. The present invention can alsoprovide a lower limb performance outfit that drastically differs fromDandy, et al. teachings in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,161,825 and 5,131,685 and5,131,684 and 5,072,970 by replacing the rigid rods an stretchablerubber loops and all other cumbersome mechanical parts by a simple pairof compliant biomimetic bending rather than stretching legs to enhancethe lower limb performance.

The present invention can provide soft, compliant, biomimetic and uniquecoupling and enhancement means arching between the upper limb throughmusculus glutaeus maximus (the buttocks muscles) and the lower limb, aswell as hip and waist, of an individual involved in dynamic activitiesinvolving the use of lower limb and placing dynamic loads on the lowerlimb muscles and the knees. The present invention can provide a uniqueperformance enhancement outfit, which is worn by the user in acomfortable fashion, and with an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Thepresent invention can comprise lower limb assist and/or support outfitsthat can be worn by people to improve and enhance lower limb, as well aship and waist, legs and knees performance in sports, daily dynamicactivities and medical rehabilitation/physical therapy, which allows aportion of the upper limb's quasi-static weight and dynamic weight dueto impact forces to be excluded from being transmitted to the lowerlimb, as well as hip and waist, legs, quadriceps and hamstrings musclesand knees by directly transmitting them to the ankles, footwear and/orthe ground, through soft elastic columnar quasi-legs that are equippedwith biomimetic smart materials and artificial muscles and provide lowerlimb support function by columnar buckling and bending in accordancewith the dynamics movement and maneuvering of the user.

The present invention can provide a one piece, user-friendlynon-cumbersome means, biomimetic, compliant, bendable pair of quasi-legsto enhance lower limb performance in dynamic activities. The presentinvention can provide a one piece outfit wearable in a user-friendlymanner with bendable biomimetic quasi-legs equipped with biomimeticsmart materials and artificial muscles to enhance lower limb performancein dynamic activities. The present invention can be very simple andinexpensive to manufacture.

Referring to FIG. 1, note that the individual 1′ is in a standingupright position in a dynamic activities setting while wearing the lowerlimb performance enhancing outfit 1, whose upper portion is a short tobe worn by an individual with embedded buttocks support plates 6 withits quasi-legs 2 comprising artificial muscles 2′ behind the lower limb4 and footwear straps 3 securely attaching the lower part of thequasi-legs part of the outfit to footwear 5 on the ground 6. The lowerlimb performance enhancement outfit of the present invention operatessuch that when there is dynamic activities or impact or other meanscausing or forcing the lower limb to bend such as shown in FIG. 2, thequasi-legs 2, comprising an artificial muscle 2′, buckle and bendbetween the embedded buttocks support plates 6 and securely tightenedstraps 3 and footwear 5 to transfer part of the dynamic force or upperbody weight directly to the footwear 5 and subsequently to the ground 6.The embedded artificial muscle in the quasi leg can maintain a specificinitial curvature within the quasi-leg or perform an enhancementfunction if the curvature or force experienced by the quasi-legs requiremid-course correction of curvature or stiffness. Note that because ofthe aspect ratio of the quasi-legs, the bending/flexing is only on theplane of the legs, namely, backward from the human body, as shown inFIG. 1, rather than sideways from the human body. In fact, consideringthe Euler's critical buckling load (see J. E. Shigley, and R. Mischke,Mechanical Engineering Design, 5th ed., McGraw-Hill Co, New York 1989),namely: $\begin{matrix}{P_{cr} \approx \frac{\pi^{2}{EI}}{I_{eff}^{2}}} & (1)\end{matrix}$

where E is the Young's modulus of elasticity of the quasi-legs 2, I isits moment of inertia in the plane of bending and l_(eff) is itseffective length from the point of attachment to the buttocks supportplates 6 to the point of attachment of the straps 3 to the footwear 5.If the end conditions of the quasi-legs are clamped-clamped, thenl_(eff)=0.65 l, where l is the actual length between the point ofattachment of quasi-legs to the buttocks support plates 6 and the pointof attachment of the straps 3 to the footwear 5. Thus, if the width ofthe quasi-legs is w and its thickness is t, the moment of inertia forbending is:I=wt ³/12  (2)

Taking, for example, w=6 cm, t=2 cm, then I=[6×8/12]=4 cm⁴. Assuming thequasi-leg material to be, say, porous rubber-like material like porousNeoprene of length l=1 m, then the Young's modulus of Elasticity E isabout 0.1 GPa and thus the critical buckling load will be:P _(cr)=π²×10⁸ N/m²×4×10⁻⁸ m⁴/(0.65)² m²=93.345 N=9.525 Kg=21 Lbs.  (3)

This will be the initial load taken and shifted to the ground by eachquasi-leg for a total load carrying of almost 42 Lbs by the pair ofquasi-legs, which is quite significant for enhancing the performance oflower limbs.

Referring to FIG. 3 which depicts the outfit from the back side of theuser, note again that the individual 1′ is in a standing uprightposition in a dynamic activities setting while wearing the lower limbperformance enhancing outfit 1, whose upper portion is a short to beworn by an individual with embedded buttocks support plates 6 with itsquasi-legs 2 comprising artificial muscles 2′ behind the lower limb 4and footwear straps 3 securely attaching the lower part of thequasi-legs part of the outfit to footwear 5 on the ground 6. The lowerlimb performance enhancement outfit of the present invention operatessuch that when there is dynamic activities or impact or other meanscausing or forcing the lower limb to bend such as shown in FIG. 2, thequasi-legs 2 buckle and bend between the embedded buttocks supportplates 6 and securely tightened straps 3 and footwear 5 to transfer partof the dynamic force or upper body weight directly to the footwear 5 andsubsequently to the ground 6. Note that because of the aspect ratio ofthe quasi-legs, the bending/flexing is only in the plane of the legs andknees, namely, backward from the human body, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2rather than sideways from the human body. The artificial muscle in thequasi leg can maintain a specific initial curvature within the quasi-legor perform an enhancement function if the curvature or force experiencedby the quasi-legs require mid-course correction of curvature orstiffness.

FIG. 4 depicts the outfits in a user in both the upright and the bentpositions for comparison. This is a comparative side view of anindividual wearing the lower limb performance enhancement outfit of thepresent invention in two consecutive positions of upright and tuck. Noteagain that the individual 1′ is in both a standing upright position, aswell as in a tuck position, in a dynamic activities setting whilewearing the lower limb performance enhancing outfit 1, whose upperportion is a short to be worn by an individual with embedded buttockssupport plates 6 with its quasi-legs 2, with embedded artificial muscle2 behind the lower limb 4 and footwear straps 3 securely attaching thelower part of the quasi-legs part of the outfit to footwear 5 on theground 6. The lower limb performance enhancement outfit of the presentinvention operates such that when there is dynamic activities or impactor other means causing or forcing the lower limb to bend such as shownin FIG. 2, The quasi-legs 2 buckle and bend between the embeddedbuttocks support plates 6 and securely tightened straps 3 and footwear 5to transfer part of the dynamic force or upper body weight directly tothe footwear 5 and subsequently to the ground 6. Note that because ofthe aspect ratio of the quasi-legs, the bending/flexing is only in theplane of the legs and knees, namely, backward from the human body, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 rather than sideways from the human body. Theembedded artificial muscle in the quasi leg can maintain a specificinitial curvature within the quasi-leg or perform an enhancementfunction if the curvature or force experienced by the quasi-legs requiremid-course correction of curvature or stiffness.

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional view of a single biomimetic quasi-leg 2with buttocks support plate 6 and binding straps 3 equipped withembedded smart materials and/or artificial muscles 9 in an initialupright position. These quasi-legs can be manufactured in one piece bymolding techniques such as injection molding, compression molding,thermoforming, urethane casting, and dip molding, and then may beencapsulated in a user friendly fabric and be embedded in a tight, shortor underarm support vest to be worn by the user. The embedded artificialmuscle 9 in the quasi leg can maintain a specific initial curvaturewithin the quasi-leg or perform an enhancement function if the curvatureor force experienced by the quasi-legs requires mid-course correction ofcurvature of stiffness.

FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional view of a single biomimetic quasi-leg 2with buttocks support plate 6 and binding straps 3 equipped withembedded smart materials and/or artificial muscles 9 in a buckled/bentposition. The embedded artificial muscle 9 in the quasi leg can maintaina specific initial curvature within the quasi-leg or perform anenhancement function if the curvature or force experienced by thequasi-legs requires mid-course correction of curvature or stiffness.

FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional view of a pair of biomimetic quasi-legs 2with buttocks support plate 6 and binding straps 3 equipped withembedded smart materials and/or artificial muscles 9 in an initialupright position. The embedded artificial muscle 9 in the quasi leg canmaintain a specific initial curvature within the quasi-leg or perform anenhancement function if the curvature or force experienced by thequasi-legs requires mid-course correction of curvature or stiffness.

FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional view of a pair of biomimetic quasi-legs 2with buttocks support plate 6 and binding straps 3 equipped withembedded smart materials and/or artificial muscles 9 in a buckled/bentposition. The embedded artificial muscle in the quasi leg can maintain aspecific initial curvature within the quasi-leg or perform anenhancement function if the curvature or force experienced by thequasi-legs requires mid-course correction of curvature or stiffness.

FIG. 9 is a side view of an individual 1 involved in sports, dailydynamic activities and medical rehabilitation/physical therapy wearingmultiple lower limb performance enhancement outfits of the presentinvention in a tuck position with bent knees on support platform orground 7. Here the quasi legs 2 with buttocks support plate 6 embeddedin the wearable short 1 and supported between the support plates 6 andfootwear 5 by binding straps 3 and quasi legs 2′ and 2″ with upper andlower leg support straps 3′ and 3″.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a skier 1 wearing the lower limb performanceenhancement outfit 1 of the present invention in a tuck position withbent knees. The quasi legs 2 with embedded artificial muscle 2′ aresupported between the buttocks support plates 6 embedded in ski outfit 1and the binding straps 3 attached to footwear 5. All dynamic impactsimparted to the lower limb of the skier are partially transmitted to theski boots 5 and excluded from the lower limb muscles and knee of theskier, thus enhancing the skiers' performance. The embedded artificialmuscle 2′ in the quasi leg can maintain a specific initial curvaturewithin the quasi-leg or perform an enhancement function if the curvatureor force experienced by the quasi-legs requires mid-course correction ofcurvature or stiffness.

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the present invention worn by a user1 involved in sports, daily dynamic activities and medicalrehabilitation/physical therapy. Note that the lower limb and hip andwaist performance enhancing outfit 6′ is worn like an under arm supportvest on the torso of an individual with under arms support to act like apair of biomimetic crouches or quasi legs 2 with embedded artificialmuscle 2′ supported between the under arm support vest 6′ and thebinding straps 3 attached to the footwear 5 in an,upright position. Theembedded artificial muscle 2′ in the quasi leg can maintain a specificinitial curvature within the quasi-leg or perform an enhancementfunction if the curvature or force experienced by the quasi-legsrequires mid-course correction of curvature or stiffness.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the present invention worn by a user1 involved in daily dynamic activities requiring a person to stand forlong hours like flight attendants and the like, and medicalrehabilitation/physical therapy. Note that the lower limb and hip andwaist performance enhancing outfit 6′ is worn like an under arm supportvest on the torso of an individual with under arms support to act like apair of biomimetic crouches or quasi legs 2 with embedded artificialmuscle 2′ supported between the under arm support vest 6′ and the bottomsupport plates 5′ on the ground 7 in an upright position. The embeddedartificial muscle 2′ in the quasi leg can maintain a specific initialcurvature within the quasi-leg or perform an enhancement function if thecurvature or force experienced by the quasi-legs require mid-coursecorrection of curvature or stiffness.

FIGS. 13 a, b and c show, respectively, the side, back and openembodiments of the present invention worn by a user 1 involved in dailydynamic activities or medical rehabilitation/physical therapy. The lowerlimb and hip and waist performance enhancing outfit 6′ is worn on thehip with buttocks support plates 6 with the quasi legs 2 serving like apair of biomimetic crouches or quasi legs 2 with embedded artificialmuscle 2′ supported between the buttocks support plates 6 and the bottomsupport plates 5′ on the ground 7 in an upright position. The crotchstrap 8 can create additional binding (such as by VELCRO®) to the frontpart of the short 6′. The embedded artificial muscle in the quasi legcan maintain a specific initial curvature within the quasi-leg orperform an enhancement function if the curvature or force experienced bythe quasi-legs requires mid-course correction of curvature or stiffness.

Referring to FIG. 14, note that the individual 1′ is in a standingupright position in a dynamic activities setting while wearing the lowerlimb performance enhancing outfit 1, whose upper portion is a short tobe worn by an individual with embedded buttocks support plates 6 withits quasi-legs 2 with embedded artificial muscle 2′ behind the lowerlimb 4 and footwear bracket 3″ and footwear ground support column 3′securely attaching the lower part of the quasi-legs part of the outfitto footwear 5 on the ground 7. The lower limb performance enhancementoutfit of the figure operates such that when there are dynamicactivities or impact or other means causing or forcing the lower limb tobend such as shown in FIG. 15, the quasi-legs 2 buckle and bend betweenthe embedded buttocks support plates 6 and securely placed footwearbrackets 3″, footwear ground support column 3′ and footwear 5 totransfer part of the dynamic force or upper body weight directly to theground 7 by means of footwear support column and bracket 3′ and 3″ andsubsequently to the ground 7. Because of the aspect ratio of thequasi-legs, the bending/flexing is primarily on the plane of the legs,namely, backward away from the human body, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15,rather than sideways from the human body. In fact, as described beforeconsidering the Euler's critical buckling load is given by equation 1,where again E is the Young's modulus of elasticity of the quasi-legs 2,I is its moment of inertia in the plane of bending and l_(eff) is itseffective length from the point of attachment to the buttocks supportplates 6 to the point of attachment of the footwear bracket and column3″ and 3′. If the end conditions of the quasi-legs are assumed to beengineering clamped-clamped, then l_(eff)=0.5l, where l is the actuallength between the point of attachment of quasi-legs to the buttockssupport plates 6 and the point of attachment to the footwear bracket andcolumn 3″ and 3′. Taking, for example, w=6 cm, t=2.0 cm, thenI=[6×8/12]=4 cm⁴. Assuming the quasi-leg material to be, say, porousrubber-like material like porous Neoprene composite of length l=1 m,then the Young's modulus of Elasticity E is estimated to be about 0.1GPa and thus the critical buckling load will be:P _(cr)=π²×10⁸ N/m²×4.0×10⁻⁸ m⁴/(0.5)² m²=157.75 N=16.1 Kg=35.4Lbs.  (4)

This will be the initial load taken and shifted to the ground by eachquasi-leg for a total load carrying of almost 71 Lbs by the pair ofquasi-legs, which is quite significant for enhancing the performance oflower limbs.

Referring to FIG. 16 which depicts the outfit from the back side of theuser, again the individual 1′ is in a standing upright position in adynamic activities setting while wearing a lower limb performanceenhancing outfit 1, whose upper portion is a short to be worn by anindividual with embedded buttocks support plates 6 with its quasi-legs 2with embedded artificial muscle 2′behind the lower limb 4 and footwearbracket 3″ and footwear ground support column 3′ securely attaching thelower part of the quasi-legs part of the outfit to footwear 5 on theground 7. The lower limb performance enhancement outfit of the figureoperates such that when there are dynamic activities or impact or othermeans causing or forcing the lower limb to bent such as shown in FIG.15, the quasi-legs 2 buckle and bend between the embedded buttockssupport plates 6 and point of attachment of footwear bracket 3″ andfootwear ground support column 3′ securely attaching the lower part ofthe quasi-legs part of the outfit to footwear 5 on the ground 7 totransfer part of the dynamic force or upper body weight directly to theto the footwear bracket and column 3″″ and 3′ and ground 7. Because ofthe aspect ratio of the quasi-legs, the bending/flexing is primarily inthe plane of the legs and knees, namely, backward from the human body,as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 rather than sideways from the human body.The embedded artificial muscle 2′ in the quasi leg can maintain aspecific initial curvature within the quasi-leg or perform anenhancement function if the curvature or force experienced by thequasi-legs requires mid-course correction of curvature or stiffness.

FIG. 17 depicts the outfits in a user in both the upright and the bentpositions for comparison. This is a comparative side view of anindividual wearing the lower limb performance enhancement outfit of thepresent invention in two consecutive positions of upright and tuck.Again the individual 1′ is in both a standing upright position, as wellas in a tuck position, in a dynamic activities setting while wearing thelower limb performance enhancing outfit 1, whose upper portion is ashort to be worn by an individual with embedded buttocks support plates6 with its quasi-legs 2 with embedded artificial muscle 2′ behind thelower limb 4 and footwear bracket 3″ and footwear ground support column3′ securely attaching the lower part of the quasi-legs part of theoutfit to the bracket and column 3″″ and 3′ and the ground 7. The lowerlimb performance enhancement outfit of the present invention operatessuch that when there are dynamic activities or impact or other meanscausing or forcing the lower limb to bend such as shown in FIG. 15, thequasi-legs 2 buckle and bend between the embedded buttocks supportplates 6 and securely fastened footwear bracket 3″ and footwear groundsupport column 3′ where the lower part of the quasi-legs part of theoutfit is attached to the footwear 5 on the ground 7. Because of theaspect ratio of the quasi-legs, the bending/flexing is primarily in theplane of the legs and knees, namely, backward from the human body, asshown in FIGS. 14 and 15 rather than sideways from the human body. Theembedded artificial muscle in the quasi leg can maintain a specificinitial curvature within the quasi-leg or perform an enhancementfunction if the curvature or force experienced by the quasi-legsrequires mid-course correction of curvature or stiffness.

FIG. 18 is a three-dimensional view of a single biomimetic quasi-leg 2with embedded artificial muscle 2′ with buttocks support plate 6 andfootwear support bracket 3″ and ground support column 3′ and bindingstraps 3′″ equipped with embedded smart materials and/or artificialmuscles 9 in an initial upright position. These quasi-legs can bemanufactured in one piece by molding techniques such as injectionmolding, compression molding, thermoforming, urethane casting, and dipmolding, and then can be encapsulated in a user friendly fabric such asoutdoor canvas and be embedded in a tight, short or underarm supportvest to be worn by the user. The embedded artificial muscle 9 in thequasi leg can maintain a specific initial curvature within the quasi-legor perform an enhancement function if the curvature or force experiencedby the quasi-legs requires mid-course correction of curvature orstiffness.

FIG. 19 is a three-dimensional view of a single biomimetic quasi-leg 2with buttocks support plate 6 and footwear support bracket 3″ and groundsupport column 3′ and binding straps 3′″ equipped with embedded smartmaterials and/or artificial muscles 9 in a buckled/bent position. Theembedded artificial muscle 9 in the quasi leg can maintain a specificinitial curvature within the quasi-leg or perform an enhancementfunction if the curvature or force experienced by the quasi-legsrequires mid-course correction of curvature or stiffness.

FIG. 20 is a three-dimensional view of a pair of biomimetic quasi-legs 2with buttocks support plate 6 and footwear support bracket 3″ and groundsupport column 3′ and binding straps 3′″ equipped with embedded smartmaterials and/or artificial muscles 9 in an initial upright position.The embedded artificial muscle 9 in the quasi leg can maintain aspecific initial curvature within the quasi-leg or perform anenhancement function if the curvature or force experienced by thequasi-legs requires mid-course correction of curvature or stiffness.

FIG. 21 is a three-dimensional view of a pair of biomimetic quasi-legs 2with buttocks support plate 6 and footwear support bracket 3″ and groundsupport column 3′ and binding straps 3′″ equipped with embedded smartmaterials and/or artificial muscles 9 in a buckled/bent position. Theembedded artificial muscle 9 in the quasi leg can maintain a specificinitial curvature within the quasi-leg or perform an enhancementfunction if the curvature or force experienced by the quasi-legsrequires mid-course correction of curvature or stiffness.

FIG. 22 is a side view of an individual 1 involved in sports, dailydynamic activities and medical rehabilitation/physical therapy wearingmultiple lower limb performance enhancement outfits of the presentinvention in a tuck position with bent knees on support platform orground 7. The quasi legs 2, 2′ and 2″ with buttocks support plate 6 andsupport brackets 3′ and 3″ embedded in the wearable short 1 andsupported between the support plates 6, support brackets 3′and 3″ andfootwear 5 by binding straps 3, 3′ and 3″ and quasi legs 2, 2′ and 2″with upper and lower leg support straps 3′ and 3″. The attachmentconfigurations of quasi-legs 2, 2′ and 2″ to the lower straps 3, 3′ and3″ are perpendicular to the leg, while in FIG. 9 the attachmentsconfigurations are in parallel fashion.

FIG. 23 is a side view of a skier 1 wearing a lower limb performanceenhancement outfit 1 of the present invention in a tuck position withbent knees. The quasi legs 2 with embedded artificial muscle 2′ aresupported between the buttocks support plates 6 embedded in ski outfit 1and short 6′ and the securely fastened footwear support bracket 3″ andground support column 3′ and binding straps 3′″ equipped with embeddedsmart materials and/or artificial muscles attached to ski boot supportbracket 3″ and ground support column 3′ and footwear 5. Dynamic impactsimparted to the lower limb of the skier can be partially transmitted tothe ski boots 5 and excluded from the lower limb muscles and knee of theskier, thus enhancing the skiers' performance. The embedded artificialmuscle 2′ in the quasi leg can maintain a specific initial curvaturewithin the quasi-leg or perform an enhancement function if the curvatureor force experienced by the quasi-legs requires mid-course correction ofcurvature or stiffness.

FIG. 24 shows another embodiment of the present invention worn by a user1 involved in sports, daily dynamic activities or medicalrehabilitation/physical therapy. The lower limb and hip and waistperformance enhancing outfit 6′ can be worn like an under arm supportvest on the torso of an individual with under arms support to act like apair of biomimetic crouches or quasi legs 2 with embedded artificialmuscle 2′ behind the limb 4 supported between the under arm support vest6′ and the footwear support bracket 3″ and ground support column 3′ andbinding straps 3′″ equipped with embedded smart materials and/orartificial muscles attached to the footwear 5 in an upright position onthe ground 7. The attachment configurations of quasi-legs 2 to the lowersupport brackets and ground column 3″ and 3′ are at angle, preferably 45degrees to the leg, while in FIG. 11 the attachment configurations arein a parallel fashion. The embedded artificial muscle 2′ in the quasileg can maintain a specific initial curvature within the quasi-leg orperform an enhancement function if the curvature or force experienced bythe quasi-legs requires mid-course correction of curvature or stiffness.

FIG. 25 shows another embodiment of the present invention worn by a user1 involved in daily dynamic activities requiring a person to stand forlong hours (e.g., a flight attendant) or medical rehabilitation/physicaltherapy. Note that the lower limb and hip and waist performanceenhancing outfit 6′ can be worn like an under arm support vest on thetorso of an individual with under arms support to act like a biomimeticquasi-leg 2 with embedded artificial muscle 2′ behind the limb 4supported between the under arm support vest 6′ and the bottom supportplates 5′ equipped with a ball and socket wheel 5″ on the ground 7 in anupright position. The embedded artificial muscle in the quasi leg canmaintain a specific initial curvature within the quasi-leg or perform anenhancement function if the curvature or force experienced by thequasi-legs requires mid-course correction of curvature or stiffness.

FIGS. 26 a, b and c depict an alternative to the embodiment of FIG. 13,showing, respectively, the side, back and open views of an embodiment ofthe present invention worn by a user 1 involved in daily dynamicactivities or medical rehabilitation/physical therapy. The lower limband hip and waist performance enhancing outfit 6′ can be worn on the hipwith buttocks support plates 6 with the forked quasi leg 2 with embeddedartificial muscle 2′ serving like a biomimetic crouch or quasi-leg 2supported between the buttocks support plates 6 and the bottom supportplates 5′ on the ground 7 in an upright position. The crotch strap 8 cancreate additional binding (such as VELCRO®) to the front part of theshort 6′. The embedded artificial muscle 2′ in the quasi leg canmaintain a specific initial curvature within the quasi-leg or perform anenhancement function if the curvature or force experienced by thequasi-legs requires mid-course correction of curvature or stiffness.

FIG. 27 shows another embodiment of the present invention worn by a user1 involved in sports, daily dynamic activities or medicalrehabilitation/physical therapy. The lower limb and hip and waistperformance enhancing outfit 6′ with an additional load like a back packor bag 6″ can be worn like an under arm support vest on the torso of anindividual with under load or backpack support to act like a pair ofbiomimetic crouches or quasi legs 2 with embedded artificial muscle 2′behind the limb 4 supported between the under backpack 6″, support vest6′ and the footwear support bracket 3″ and ground support column 3′ andbinding straps 3′″ equipped with embedded smart materials and/orartificial muscles attached to the footwear 5 in an upright position onthe ground 7. In this embodiment, an additional weight like a backpackor backload 6″ can also be supported by the quasi-legs 2. The embeddedartificial muscle 2′ in the quasi leg can maintain a specific initialcurvature within the quasi-leg or perform an enhancement function if thecurvature or force experienced by the quasi-legs requires mid-coursecorrection of curvature or stiffness.

FIG. 28 shows another embodiment of the present invention worn by a user1 involved in daily dynamic activities requiring a person to stand orwalk for long hours with an additional back load like a backpack 6″ andfor medical rehabilitation/physical therapy. The lower limb and hip andwaist performance enhancing outfit 6′ can be worn like an under armsupport vest with a backload 6″ on the torso of an individual withbackpack support to act like a biomimetic quasi-leg 2 with embeddedartificial muscle 2′ behind the limb 4 supported between the underbackpack 6″ support and the bottom support plates 5′ equipped with aball and socket wheel 5″ on the ground 7 in an upright position. Theembedded artificial muscle 2′ in the quasi leg can maintain a specificinitial curvature within the quasi-leg or perform an enhancementfunction if the curvature or force experienced by the quasi-legsrequires mid-course correction of curvature or stiffness.

FIGS. 29 a, b and c depict another alternative to the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 26 which shows, respectively, the side, back and openviews of an embodiment of the present invention worn by a user 1involved in daily dynamic activities and medical rehabilitation/physicaltherapy. The lower limb and hip and waist performance enhancing outfit6′ can be worn on the hip with buttocks support plates 6 with the forkedquasi leg 2 with embedded artificial muscle 2′ serving like a biomimeticcrouch or quasi-leg 2 supported between the buttocks support plates 6and the bottom support plates 5′ equipped with a ball and socket wheel5″ on the ground 7 in an upright position. The crotch strap 8 can createadditional binding (such as VELCRO®) to the front part of the short 6′.The embedded artificial muscle 2′ in the quasi leg can maintain aspecific initial curvature within the quasi-leg or perform anenhancement function if the curvature or force experienced by thequasi-legs requires mid-course correction of curvature or stiffness.

Other example embodiments are described below.

A wearable outfit for enhancing the performance of human lower limb, aswell as hip and waist, by transferring a portion of the static anddynamic weight or impact load imparted to an individual to his or herfootwear, thus partially bypassing the individual's lower limb, theoutfit comprising a short, a single biomimetic quasi-leg or a pair ofbiomimetic quasi-legs with embedded buttocks support plates, resilientbuckling/bending column embedded with elastic, resilient smart materialsand artificial muscles, and footwear binding strap means disposableabout the ankle or the footwear of an individual. The outfit can alsocomprise fabric encapsulation. The outfit can also comprise syntheticrubbers such as Neoprene or polychloroprene embedded in the quasi-legsand buttocks support plates. The outfit can also comprise naturalrubbers such as Latex or polymer of isoprene from rubber tree (Heveabrasiliensis) embedded in the quasi-legs and buttocks support plates.The outfit can also comprise smart materials such as shape memorymaterials embedded in the quasi-legs and buttocks support plates. Theoutfit can also comprise artificial muscles such as synthetic musclesand ionic polymeric muscles embedded in the quasi-legs and buttockssupport plates.

An outfit for dynamic activities of the human body in sports, every dayactivities, medical rehabilitation and physical therapy and the like tolessen the effect of the body static and dynamic weights and dynamicimpacts to the lower limb, as well as hip and waist, of an individual bytransferring part of such body static and dynamic weights and dynamicimpacts from the upper body to the ankle or footwear of an individual.

Any of the example embodiments can comprise multiple biomimeticquasi-legs or pairs of biomimetic quasi-legs with embedded buttockssupport plates, binding straps, resilient buckling/bending columnsembedded with elastic, resilient smart materials and artificial muscles,and footwear binding strap means disposable about the ankle or thefootwear of an individual.

Any of the example embodiments can be applied to a skier for enhancingthe performance of the skiers' lower limb, by transferring a portion ofthe static and dynamic weight or impact load imparted to the skier tohis or her ski boots, thus partially bypassing the skiers' lower limb.

Any of the example embodiments can comprise an under arm support vest, asingle biomimetic quasi-leg or a pair of biomimetic quasi-legs withembedded under arm support vest, resilient buckling/bending columnembedded with elastic, resilient smart materials and artificial muscles,and footwear binding strap means disposable about the ankle or thefootwear of an individual.

Any of the example embodiments can be worn on the torso of an individualfor enhancing dynamic activities in sports, every day activities,medical rehabilitation and physical therapy and the like to lessen theeffect of the body static and dynamic weights and dynamic impacts to thelower limb, as well as hip and waist, of an individual by transferringpart of such body static and dynamic weights and dynamic impacts fromthe upper body to the ankle or footwear of an individual, and comprisean under arm support vest, a single biomimetic quasi-leg or a pair ofbiomimetic quasi-legs with embedded under arm support vest, resilientbuckling/bending column embedded with elastic, resilient smart materialsand artificial muscles, and footwear binding strap means disposableabout the ankle or the footwear of an individual.

Any of the example embodiments can be worn like an under arm supportvest on the torso of an individual with under arms support to act like apair of biomimetic crouches or quasi legs supported between the underarm support vest and the bottom support plates on the ground, in anupright position with quasi-legs supported on the ground a user standsand walks on to be worn by the user involved in daily dynamic activitiesrequiring a person to stand for long hours like flight attendants andthe like.

Any of the example embodiments can be worn like short on the waist andhip of an individual with buttock's support-plates to act like a pair ofbiomimetic quasi legs supported between the buttocks support plates thebottom support plates on the ground, in an upright position withquasi-legs supported on the ground a user stands and walks on to be wornby the user involved in daily dynamic activities requiring a person tostand for long hours like flight attendants and the like.

The particular sizes and equipment discussed above are cited merely toillustrate particular embodiments of the invention. It is contemplatedthat the use of the invention may involve components having differentsizes and characteristics. It is intended that the scope of theinvention be defined by the claims appended hereto.

1) A human performance enhancement apparatus, comprising a biomimeticquasi-leg, having first and second ends, wherein the second end isadapted to mount with a portion of the human body above the knee, andwherein the first end is adapted to mount in a substantially fixedrelationship with a portion of the human body below the knee, whereinthe quasi-leg comprises an artificial muscle or a smart material. 2) Ahuman performance enhancement apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the firstend is adapted to mount with the ankle or foot of a human, and whereinthe second end is adapted to mount with the buttocks of a human. 3) Anapparatus as in claim 2, wherein the first end comprises a binding strapsuitable for attachment to a human ankle or to a human foot and a groundmember, where the human foot communicates forces with a surface, andwherein the ground member mounts relative to the binding strap such thatthe ground member communicates force with the surface substantiallycontemporaneously with the foot's communication of forces with thesurface. 4) An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the first end comprisesa binding strap suitable for attachment to a human ankle or to a humanfoot and a ground member mounted relative to the binding strap such thatthe ground member communicates force with a surface opposing forcessupplied by the quasi-leg. 5) An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein thefirst end comprises footwear suitable for wear by a human. 6) Anapparatus as in claim 2, wherein the second end comprises a buttockssupport plate. 7) An apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising fabricencapsulating at least a portion of the apparatus. 8) An apparatus as inclaim 2, further comprising a second biomimetic quasi-leg, having firstand second ends, wherein the first end is adapted to mount with theankle or foot of a human, and wherein the second end is adapted to mountwith the buttocks of a human, and wherein the second biomimeticquasi-leg comprises an artificial muscle or a smart material. 9) Anapparatus as in claim 2, wherein the second end comprises aload-carrying structure, mounted with the quasi-leg such that a portionof the weight of the load-carrying structure is communicated to thequasi-leg. 10) An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the load-carryingstructure comprises a pouch. 11) A human performance enhancementapparatus, comprising a biomimetic quasi-leg, having first and secondends, wherein the second end is adapted to mount with a portion of thehuman body above the knee, and wherein the first end is adapted to mountwith a portion of the human body below the knee, and wherein thequasi-leg comprises an artificial muscle or a smart material. 12) Anapparatus as in claim 11, wherein the first end is adapted to mount witha human foot or ankle. 13) An apparatus as in claim 11, wherein thesecond end is adapted to mount with a human waist. 14) An apparatus asin claim 11, wherein the second end is adapted to mount with a humantorso. 15) An apparatus as in claim 11, further comprising a secondbiomimetic quasi-leg, having first and second ends, wherein the secondend is adapted to mount with a portion of the human body above the knee,and wherein the first end is adapted to mount with a portion of thehuman body below the knee, and wherein the second quasi-leg comprises anartificial muscle or a smart material. 16) An apparatus as in claim 11,wherein the second end comprises a load-carrying structure, mounted withthe quasi-leg such that a portion of the weight of the load-carryingstructure is communicated to the quasi-leg. 17) An apparatus as in claim16, wherein the load-carrying structure comprises a pack. 18) Anapparatus as in claim 1, wherein the first end is adapted to mount witha ski boot, ski binding, or ski. 19) An apparatus as in claim 1, whereinthe second end comprises a vest. 20) A human performance enhancementapparatus, comprising a biomimetic quasi-leg, having first and secondends, wherein the second end is adapted to mount with a portion of thehuman body above the knee, and wherein the first end is adapted tocommunicate forces to a surface that supports the human, wherein thequasi-leg comprises an artificial muscle or a smart material. 21) Anapparatus as in claim 20, wherein the first end comprises a ball mountedrotatably in a socket, mounted with the quasi-leg such that the ballcommunicates forces to the surface responsive to flexure of thequasi-leg. 22) An apparatus as in claim 20, wherein the first endcomprises a wheel mounted with a housing, mounted with the quasi-legsuch that the wheel communicates forces to the surface responsive toflexure of the quasi-leg. 23) An apparatus as in claim 20, wherein thefirst end comprises a low friction surface mounted with the quasi-legsuch that the ball communicates forces to the surface responsive toflexure of the quasi-leg. 24) An apparatus as in claim 20, wherein thesecond end comprises a load-carrying structure, mounted with thequasi-leg such that a portion of the weight of the load-carryingstructure is communicated to the quasi-leg. 25) An apparatus as in claim24, wherein the load-carrying structure comprises a pack.